Roy Hodgson has cast doubt on fears that Montenegro’s two most dangerous
players, Stevan Jovetic and Mirko Vucinic, will not be fit for the vital
World Cup qualifier against England.

Doubts: England manager Roy Hodgson refuses to believe that star Montenegro duo Stevan Jovetic and Mirko Vucinic will not be fit to face England until he sees the team sheet saying otherwisePhoto: GETTY IMAGES

More seriously Vucinic – injured in the midweek Champions League tie against Galatasaray – was absent from Juventus’s Serie A match with AC Milan.

Vucinic is suffering from a thigh injury and it has been claimed that he could be out for up to three weeks.

Both, however, have been included in the 24-man squad named by Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic.

Hodgson said: “I get reports about things and people telling me things that should work positively but it doesn’t always work that way so I’ll wait until Friday night to get the team sheet before I believe Vucinic and Jovetic [are out].

"I was foolish enough to believe the Ukraine versus Poland game was behind closed doors but that decision’s been reversed.”

Ukraine host Poland on Friday in Kharkiv and Fifa has now gone back on its decision that that game should be played without supporters attending.

The ban was imposed after complaints of “racist and discriminatory incidents” during a previous qualifier against San Marino in Lviv. Ukraine appealed and there has not been time, according to Fifa, to hear the appeal.

A further announcement will now be made.

A behind-closed-doors tie could well have been an advantage to England as they battle to finish on top of Group H with Ukraine – who face San Marino in their final tie – and Montenegro just a point behind them.

Pellegrini confirmed on Saturday that he expected Jovetic to be ready to face England. “I suppose he will be fit,” he said.

“He had some little problems before the (Champions League tie against) Bayern (Munich). On Friday he worked with the team.”

Montenegro have drawn their past three competitive matches against England with Brnovic also including Fulham’s Elsad Zverotic, former City defender Stefan Savic and former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Simon Vukcevic in his squad as his nation attempts to qualify for the finals of a major tournament for the first time.